Shahid Khaqan Abbasi (2017-2018)

Shahid Khaqan Abbasi is a Pakistani politician and engineer who served as the Prime Minister of Pakistan from August 2017 to May 2018. He was born on December 27, 1958, in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan.

Abbasi comes from a political family, with his father, Khaqan Abbasi, being a prominent politician. He graduated as an electrical engineer from the University of California, Los Angeles, and worked in the United States as a professional engineer and businessman.

In politics, Abbasi was a member of the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) faction (PML-N), led by Nawaz Sharif. He held various ministerial positions, including Minister of Petroleum and Natural Resources in Nawaz Sharif’s government.

Following the disqualification of Nawaz Sharif by the Supreme Court of Pakistan in the Panama Papers case, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi was nominated by the PML-N as the candidate for the office of Prime Minister. He was elected by the National Assembly on August 1, 2017, and took office as the 18th Prime Minister of Pakistan.

Abbasi’s tenure as Prime Minister was relatively short, but he focused on continuing the policies and projects initiated by the previous PML-N government. He aimed to maintain economic stability, improve infrastructure development, and address energy challenges.

During his term, Abbasi faced various challenges, including political and legal battles, as well as ongoing issues such as power shortages and security concerns. His government also worked on the completion of several infrastructure projects, such as motorways and energy initiatives, including liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports.

In July 2018, following the general elections, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party emerged as the leading party, and Imran Khan became the Prime Minister of Pakistan. Abbasi’s term ended, and he handed over power to the new government.

Abbasi continues to be an active member of the PML-N and has been involved in national and regional politics. He has served as a member of the National Assembly and remains engaged in political activities in Pakistan.